(BPT) - Hurricanes and tornadoes, blizzards and heat waves, floods and wildfires ... Mother Nature has become the lead story in nearly every news cycle. Can meteor showers be far behind? Whether it's climate change or simply cyclical, one fact can't be debated: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, natural disasters in the U.S. have increased 700 percent since ...

(BPT) - When kids go back to school, fundraising by parent-teacher organizations and booster clubs kicks into high gear. Hard-working parent volunteers host bake sales, festivals and myriad other events to raise funds for schools. But what if the worst happens and someone gets hurt? You may think the school will be liable to pay damages or medical expenses for ...

(BPT) - School is out and summer vacations are in full swing. But while many of us are relaxing, thieves are working overtime. Summer is theft season, at least according to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics that show more home thefts occur in June, July and August than any other month of the year. What families might not realize ...

(BPT) - The last few years have brought record destruction from natural disasters. While disasters such as Hurricane Isaac, Superstorm Sandy or the Oklahoma tornadoes are tragic and unavoidable, there is value in being prepared for the challenges Mother Nature throws our way. Technology can help you prepare for the unknown and get back on your feet more quickly. Whether it's ...

(BPT) - For most Americans, insurance coverage is a necessity. While coverage can be confusing and expensive to obtain, its solace is undeniable in the event of a car crash, emergency surgery or if your home has been damaged in a storm. From home and health to auto, life, disability and more, it's important to be smart about how you buy ...

(BPT) - If you worry about the kind of car your teen will drive, you're not alone. In a survey commissioned by USAA, 81 percent of parents put reliability first when choosing a vehicle for their teens, followed by a high safety rating. The good news is that teens also want cars with the latest safety features. "Being safe is the new ...

(BPT) - From bag-checking charges and unexplained delays to rude fellow passengers and flight attendants who are having a bad day, flying can be a huge hassle. If you're among the approximately 1 to 1.5 percent of Americans living with a peanut or tree nut allergy, boarding a commercial airplane can raise concerns that you might experience a rare in-flight ...

(BPT) - Humans may sneeze and sniffle when trees and flowers start to bud in the spring, but many pet owners wouldn't know if their pet was suffering from treatable allergy symptoms, which are likely to occur at the same time of year. According to the Pet Allergy Worldwide Survey (PAWS) sponsored by Novartis Animal Health, 44 percent of pet owners ...

United States Food and Drug Administration approves NESINA (alogliptin), OSENI (alogliptin and pioglitazone) and KAZANO (alogliptin and metformin HCl) (BPT) - The number of people living with type 2 diabetes continues to grow. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 23 million Americans are currently living with the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the ...

(BPT) - Home-based businesses are booming. About 36.6 million businesses operate from U.S. households, according to the Home Based Business Institute. And the Small Business Administration notes that 53 percent of all small businesses located in the U.S. are home-based, with those numbers expected to grow substantially in the near future. But before you start planning your home-based bakery, personal training studio ...